Trayle

I wish I could travel to Algeria.  Too dangerous for western women, I think.  With the Islamist/socialist struggle going on, there's a lot of terror incidents near the very places I want to see - the coast, the Sahara, the Berber and Tuareg lands.  I've just researched terror incidents in the Arab world and Algeria is number 3 on the list for incidents with 94 in 2005.  Only Iraq (#1) and the West Bank/Gaza Strip (#2) are worst and both of those regions are at war.  I suppose there's a civil war of sorts going on in Algeria - sort of never ended after independence in the early 60's.

Anyway, if I traveled to Algeria, I'd start on the Mediterranean near Tunisia where ancient Carthaginians and Romans lived and fought and built incredible edifices, baths, monuments, arenas and more.  Annaba was an ancient Phoenician port, then part of Carthage until conquered by the Romans who named it Hippo Regius.  St. Augustine (Bishop of Hippo...) lived there in a "hotbed of Christianity" until he expired just as the Vandals conquered the city and drove Christianity out.  Islam swept in in the 7th century, and the French moved in in 1832.  Lots of amazing history there, and it's in good shape.

Moving west, Jijel and its area seems worth exploring, as do Bejaia, Tizi Ouzou and Boumerdes.  Of course, about 50% of the terror incidents happen in these very wilayas (administrative provinces). 

Algiers actually has very little in the way of terror and a lot in the way of things to see.  For me, only in pictures so far!  I'd really love to see the Casbah (or Kasbah) which is being restored, and is a World Heritage site.

Tipasa   looks really fascinating - it's on the World Heritage list because of Phoenician, Roman and Byzantine ruins. Chlef   looks amazing.   And Oran was the jumping off point for the Moors to conquer Iberia. 

Leaving the coast, I would probably head south looking for more history.  I read "Tassili N'Ajjer National Park   , famous for prehistoric rock art, is a World Heritage site.  Other World Heritage sites include the tenth century cities of the M'Zab Valley, a fortified Muslim city (Al Qal'a of Beni Hammad)..."  and that really interests me.  And the Atlas Mountains call to me - Djelfa   has a fun website and great maps of the entire country.

Tamanghasset   is the largest wilaya and center of Tuareg culture.  Unfortunately, there are many terror incidents - probably because there is a lot of oil in the middle of the country and this wilaya. 

Research really helps me zero in on where I want to go.  I studied Algerian politics in college, and my fascination has never abated.  Some day before I'm too decrepit to walk, I hope I can visit there.